Consumer Durables: The Future of Wi-Fi Charging
Why limit Wi-Fi capability to data domain? Why not charge your mobiles in the vicinity of house-hold Gadgets (refrigerators, microwave ovens, washing machines..) that are powered by your domestic electric supply or even mobiles that have sufficient charge in its battery, after configuring? This will make the tangle of the chargers and associated cables relics, relegating them to attic. Not only this helps us to move easily, it also obviates our need for specific charger with its own unique charging pin type- a big bother.
Sony consumer electronics, by extending its 2014 patent (US9577463B2) this March is marching ahead with its patent 20170063431A1 and has taken a lead in achieving cable decluttering. Their patent titled “Configuration of Data and Power Transfer in Near Field Communications.” discloses method of wireless transfer of power and data between devices.
The technology behind is near field Communication (NFC) — short range low power solution for transfer of data. Just tap them or keep them close and they would recognize. It can even be used a contact less payment system.
The devices are going to house an antenna system. This antenna system will have at least two antenna system – one for wireless charging and one for data transfer. The patent application mentions searching for an antenna for wireless electrical energy transfer in the same manner as it is for searching a Wi-Fi hotspot. There are control protocols for wireless power and/or data transfer parameters e.g., to control data limits, limits of power charge levels, time to turn on and time to turn off, etc.
We look forward to have (cable) strangle free devices.
What Blue-tooth has done to transmit data this patent will do to transmit power and charge portable devices?
Images : An image from a patent owned by Sony featuring the ability to transfer power between devices like smartphones. (Photo: U.S. Patent & Trademark Office), Note CE: consumer electronic (CE) device
